Evan Wolfson, long time marriage equality advocate and founder and executive director of Freedom to Marry joined with Jon Cowan, president of the moderate think tank Third Way to draw attention to a “quiet revolution” within the ranks of the Republican Party.  Writing for the Los Angeles Times, they pointed out the GOP’s relative silence on the issue of same-sex marriage in 2010, and the growing list of conservative leaders, from former solicitor general and hero of Perry v. Schwarzenegger Ted Olson to the extensive guest list at former RNC Chairman Ken Mehlman’s fundraiser coming out in support of marriage equality.

What’s driving this insiders’ insurrection? Perhaps a sense that a libertarian-leaning belief in fully extending the freedom to marry to all Americans does not, in fact, clash with a conservative commitment to holding together the social fabric, as marriage entails personal responsibility and social stability. Or perhaps these GOP leaders are beginning to see an alignment of their rhetoric about individual liberty with public opinion; in the last month, two national polls, by CNN and the Associated Press, showed that a majority of Americans nationwide now support marriage for gay and lesbian couples.

The implications of such a historic shift in the GOP establishment’s stance on marriage should not be underestimated. For Republicans, it means they could become less moored to their socially conservative base and may get back in touch with the cautious but forward-looking American political center that is vital to GOP hopes of cobbling together a governing majority. For the country, it is evidence that we are inching ever closer to a national consensus that gay and lesbian couples should have the freedom to marry under the law.

Click here to read the whole thing.

While many expected Judge Vaughn Walker’s ruling in San Francisco invalidating California’s ban on same-sex marriage to cause an uproar between the political parties, it served more to underscore that the parties and candidates are focusing on economic issues instead of ‘wedge’ social issues.

At the Republican National Committee’s Summer Meeting, California Republican Party Chairman Ron Nehring told the New York Times, “This election needs to revolve around five issues: taxes, spending, the economy, jobs and debt.” The Indiana Republican Party Chairman went further, arguing that focusing on social issues might play in Democrats’ favor. “Can we declare a truce on some of the other issues unrelated to the economy?” he said.

Stereotypical roles seemed to be reversed as President Obama’s chief strategist, David Axelrod, reiterated White House opposition to marriage equality. This drew a quick response from Andrew Sullivan, a gay blogger on The Atlantic’s website, who said that “The whole point of this ruling is to contradict [Axelrod's] statement. If the president does not support my right to marry, then he does not support my equality, according to the ruling.”

The decision to stay away from marriage as a ‘wedge’ issue is one echoed by the national GOP, as RNC Political Director Gentry Collins remarked in an interview with Politico that “Every indicator that I have … generally speaking is that economic growth and job creation are the tandem issues that will be the principal drivers of voter decision at polls. What I’m encouraging candidates to do is go out and run on an economic platform, a jobs platform.”

Larry Sabato, also in Politico, put it simply: “A modern party does not want a campaign that’s built around a crusade on gay rights. … it won’t work, for one thing, and for another, it’s so controversial that it would obscure the nonpartisan appeal of the economic issue.” He added, “I don’t think that moderates and independents get very excited about this.”

Dan Balz, in the Washington Post notes that:

At another time, the ruling overturning California’s ban on same-sex marriages might have been the political equivalent of an earthquake. Instead, the relatively restrained response underscores both the singular economic focus of this year’s elections and the shifting politics of one of the country’s major social issues.

Neither Democrats nor Republicans appear eager to try to turn the California decision into a November rallying cry. Many Democrats who otherwise strongly support gay rights are still reluctant to advocate for same-sex marriages, President Obama being the most prominent example. Many Republicans believe their conservative base is already well motivated. For now, they prefer to stay away from the kind of wedge-issue politics that were once a hallmark of their campaigns.

Political parties and elected leader’s attitudes towards same-sex marriage can be directly seen as a reflection of a populace that is much more accepting. In a May 25, 2010 Gallup poll, 52 percent of Americans voiced their support for same-sex relationships, with only 43 percent registering opposition. This is remarkably different than 2004, when 54 percent opposed that right.

In Chile on Sunday, Senator Fulvio Rossi announced his plan to sponsor a marriage equality bill.

His bill is expected to encounter opposition from religious leaders, conservative president Sebastian Pinera, and other members of Congress, according to Reuters Canada. Yet just last month, Argentina, a border country of Chile, became the first country in Catholic Latin America to legalize same-sex marriage.

According to Reuters Canada, Rossi told reporters, “This is a project that I will present … and I am also calling on the Church to be more welcoming, and I say that as part of the Church.”

Simon Hughes, the Liberal Democrat deputy leader, said that the UK Government will allow same-sex couples to have “civil marriage” with same legal status as marriage between a man and a woman.

Under current law, same-sex couples may receive a civil partnership, which is recognized but not given the same status as marriage is for heterosexual couples. Hughes predicts that before the next general election, the law will be changed to give an equal right to full marriage for gay and lesbian couples.

“It would be appropriate in Britain in 2010 to have civil marriage for straight people and gay people equally,” he told British news source  The Telegraph. “The state ought to give equality. We’re halfway there. I think we ought to be able to get there in this Parliament.”

Ireland has signed into law benefits for gay and lesbian couples in the prominently Catholic country. Ireland now provides more rights for gay couples then the United States. The Civil Partnership Bill, which provides legal recognition for same-sex couples was signed today by President Mary McAleese at Áras an Uachtaráin.

This Bill extends marriage-like benefits to gay and lesbian couples for property, social welfare, succession, maintenance, pensions and tax.

After the signing of the Bill, Minister for Justice Dermot Ahern described it as “one of the most important pieces of civil rights legislation to be enacted since independence.”

The widely supported Bill was approved by 48 votes to 4 on Friday July 9th.